Description
Dive into the gripping narrative of Yahya Bas in this compelling trade paperback, released in 2023 by Headline. Raised in a vibrant yet challenging East Ham environment, Yahya's tale unfolds against a backdrop of 'Many Mothers' and an eccentric uncle, revealing the deep-rooted myths surrounding his birth. This fascinating story navigates his unconventional upbringing, shaped significantly by an obsession with television and the harsh realities of his primary school life. However, his life takes an extraordinary turn when a teenage Yahya is sent to Islamic school, where he discovers his talent for poetry, adopting the online persona of Al-Bayn. As he rises to fame as the most widely read poet in the UK, the consequences become dangerously complex. His urgent quest for understanding leads him to flee to Syria, seeking answers about his long-lost father. Yet, what he encounters in Syria starkly contrasts with his expectations. Upon his return, Yahya's confessions during interrogation unveil a profound narrative about identity, societal constructs, and the journey of a young man asserting his voice amidst turmoil. Experience this modern literary masterpiece that showcases the struggles and triumphs of a poet shaped by his surroundings. Perfect for readers seeking insight into personal and cultural identity. Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Condition: BRAND NEW. ISBN: 9781472250247. Format: Trade paperback (UK). Year: 2023. Publisher: Headline.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781472250247
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2023
Publisher: Headline
Description:
Raised by 'Many Mothers' and an eccentric uncle in a crumbling East Ham home, even Yahya Bas's birth is shrouded in myths which his absent father and distant birth mother are not on hand to dispel. His is an unconventional start in life, where his view of the world is shaped perhaps more by the TV (his many mothers' endless soaps and his uncle's endless new bulletins) as by a primary school where it is all he can do to escape daily beatings.
When, as a teenager, he is sent to Islamic school, Yahya discovers an unexpected gift as a poet, and under his online alter ego as Al-Bayn, he becomes the most widely read poet in the country. But the consequences of his fame are ugly, and his need to learn what became of his father has become so pressing that he flees the UK to travel to Syria under an assumed name.
What he counters there is very far from what he expected to find, and his confession, when he finds himself interned back in the UK, is one that will shake his interrogator to the core: it's the story of how Britain made Yahya in its own image, and above all, it's the story of a young man who insists on telling his story in his own defiant, incendiary words.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781472250247
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2023
Publisher: Headline
Description:
Raised by 'Many Mothers' and an eccentric uncle in a crumbling East Ham home, even Yahya Bas's birth is shrouded in myths which his absent father and distant birth mother are not on hand to dispel. His is an unconventional start in life, where his view of the world is shaped perhaps more by the TV (his many mothers' endless soaps and his uncle's endless new bulletins) as by a primary school where it is all he can do to escape daily beatings.
When, as a teenager, he is sent to Islamic school, Yahya discovers an unexpected gift as a poet, and under his online alter ego as Al-Bayn, he becomes the most widely read poet in the country. But the consequences of his fame are ugly, and his need to learn what became of his father has become so pressing that he flees the UK to travel to Syria under an assumed name.
What he counters there is very far from what he expected to find, and his confession, when he finds himself interned back in the UK, is one that will shake his interrogator to the core: it's the story of how Britain made Yahya in its own image, and above all, it's the story of a young man who insists on telling his story in his own defiant, incendiary words.